MWA 2 Original Document

More than Just Words

There are thousands and thousands of languages spoken around the world and most
people here in the United States only know one language. It is nothing more than an advantage in
knowing two languages, or even more. However it is not a requirement at most elementary to
teach students another language. It takes the human brain around 22 years to develop completely,
therefore as a young child, it is important and should be mandatory in elementary schools for
kids to learn at least one other language. This is important for multiple reasons, some which
include international opportunities, getting ahead in reading writing and math skills, and being
culturally aware and diverse. However, there are also opposing viewpoints on this topic to why it
can be a negative idea for kids to learn another language at a young age. There are some people
who do not want their children growing up learning a second language because of cultural values
and moral ideals. Some also say it is a workout for your brain. There are both pros and cons to
this argument, however I believe it is best for children to learn another language while still
young.
In the United States, the main language is English. According to the US Census Bureau in
2011, only 20 percent of kids aged five and up spoke a second language. If a child learns another
language at a young age, it gives them the opportunity to become fluent in other languages as
they get older. The pros for young elementary aged students learning a new language include
benefits of international collaborations, higher scores in different subjects including reading and
writing, and being culturally aware and diverse of other cultures and what customs countries
besides the United States have. New studies are [also] showing that a multilingual brain is
nimbler, quicker, better able to deal with ambiguities, resolve conflicts and even resist

Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia longer. This is helping with short term and
long term help.
Elementary is the time when kids are able to learn new skills easier and because of this it
will help them learn a new language. When a person knows more than one language, it gives
them multiple job or volunteer opportunities to collaborate with others in the world. For
example, many college students go on exchange to different countries and sometimes go to
places where English is not the first language. By learning a second language early on, it will
help the student who is traveling abroad maybe know the language where they are traveling to or
learn another language quicker? It has also been proven that kids who start learning a second
language will do better in school. When children and adults know multiple languages, it makes
them think in different ways compared to people who are only fluent in only one language.
Learning tasks such as writing, reading, math, and music skills are greatly enhanced. One study
found students scored significantly higher in math and language arts after one semester of
foreign language study 90 minutes per week. (Armstrong 1997) This study only showed how
much higher students were scoring in a semester's time. If students were required to take a
foreign language for at least two years, the accuracy and scores would rise.
The one problem parents may have with their child learning a second language would
that it would be too difficult and confuse the child. However, learning a second language will
also make people more culturally aware. If someone was taught English and Chinese, two totally
different languages, it can make the person learning the language become more diverse and
appreciate the Chinese culture. Knowing one language makes people more sheltered because
there are thousands of languages practiced in todays world and not enough people knowing
more than one. To add on, most kids are brought up speaking English in the United States as

their first language even though their ethnic background is something besides American. For
example, there are many Hispanic and Mexican people in the United States, however, most of
these people who are not first generations do not even know their native language. By Spanish
for example, it opens up childrens eyes to not only a new way to speak but of learning their
personal and family history. There are multiple reasons for making it mandatory in elementary
for students to study and learn another language but these are just the select few.
There are some people who believe it is not a good idea for kids at such a young age to be
learning a new language for various reasons. However, long term studies have not been made
and backed up. Parents who are against their child learning a second language at a young age
will say it can confuse them and they will not know how to distinguish the two. Others also will
question the cultural values their kids have if they are being forced to learn another language in
school.
Most kids at a young have such amazing and flexible brains that it actually is not hard for them
to learn a second language. It may confuse the parents more than it would the kids. An opposing
aspect in schools teaching a second language to young children can put pressure on them to
succeed in every subject because they are trying to learn so many new things. Parents who have
strict cultural values also might be against their child learning a new language in class because it
is not their specific language and does not follow along with their values. They may not agree
with the language being taught and have issues with the schools policy. However, it is easier for
children to learn a second language at a younger age rather than once theyre out of their teen
years.
Through evidence and studies, it is clear to see that students who are taught a second language
at a young (elementary) age, will excel and succeed more than those kids who only speak one

language. Their chances of test score being higher and being more aware of the people around
them who are of a different ethnicity is significantly increased. Being bilingual should be aspired
by all in our young population and for future generations. Because there are so many language
barriers in the world, it is harder to communicate our thoughts, ideas, and scientific findings. If a
larger amount of the population was bilingual then we could conquer so many different things in
the world. Not only does it help bring people together, it helps people individual become smarter
and have a greater advantage through everything possible.
Works Cited
Kluger, Jeffrey. "How the Brain Benefits From Being Bilingual | TIME.com." Science Space
How the Brain Benefits From Being Bilingual Comments. 18 July 2013. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.

Regarding World Language Education (2007): 12. Print.

Ryan, Camille. American Community Survey Reports, 1 Aug. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acs-22.pdf>.